The relationship between schizotypal personality and internet addiction in university students

The current study assessed the relationship between problematic internet behaviors, as measured by the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and schizotypal personality traits, measured by the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE(B)). One hundred participants (aged between 20 and 30) were given a battery of psychometric assessments, including the IAT and O-LIFE(B), as well as measures of depression, and anxiety. Around 30% of the sample displayed responses to the IAT that suggested some problems controlling internet behaviors, and there was no gender difference in these figures. There were associations between both the impulsive nonconformity and introverted anhedonia schizotypal personality traits and problematic internet use, over and above those associated with depression and anxiety. This replicates some previous work that implies that impulsiveness and depression are predictive of behavioral addictions, but places them within a single construct. The findings also support the notion of two groups of users who display problematic internet behaviors - impulsive and depressed individuals

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PROBLEMATIC INTERNET USE, DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, SELFESTEEM, AND PERSONALITY TRAITS

A number of international studies have investigated the association between problematic internet use (PIU), personality traits, and psychopathology, however, despite their widespread prevalence, such investigations in the Middle East region remain rare. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between PIU and depression, self-esteem, and personality traits in a sample of 350 university students, aged between 17 and 33 years (mage=20.69, SD=2.14), who were residents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Participants completed several assessments of sociodemographic variables, a validated measure of PIU, depression, self-esteem, and a measure of their personality traits. A total of 75.1% of the sample was determined to engage in behaviors reflective of PIU. The results of a series of bivariate correlations and a hierarchical linear regression confirmed that PIU was indeed predicted by the duration of time spent online, elevated scores on depression, and by clusters A and C of the personality assessment. This study’s results largely concur with those of preliminary investigations of PIU in the UAE in relation to the association between PIU and psychopathology. Moreover, this study makes a novel contribution to the literature by being the first study in this region of the world to explore the relationship between PIU and personality traits. The significant findings of this study in relation to personality lend support to the theorized reasons motivating the development of PIU; that individuals with particular personality traits are especially prone to develop addictive tendencies to the internet as the online medium enables the satisfaction of specific social needs in the virtual realm that would otherwise go unmet or avoided in real-world interactions with others

Schizotypy as a predictor for social media use and internet addiction behaviors in emerging adults

This study examined the unique domains/symptom clusters within schizotypy as they relate to Facebook use and internet addiction behaviors, while controlling for co-morbid disorders such as depression and anxiety. Using an online survey, this study measured electronic media use, internet addiction behavior, and schizotypy in 270 undergraduate students (aged 18-30). We expected mood symptoms of anxiety and depression to predict both internet addiction and Facebook use in this sample, and controlled for these variables accordingly. We hypothesized that schizotypy would contribute significantly to the prediction of internet addiction and Facebook use above and beyond anxiety, depression, and demographic variables and anticipated that the strongest predictor of internet addiction would be positive schizotypy, followed by negative schizotypy, and lastly disorganized schizotypy. After a model comparison utilizing hierarchical linear regression, schizotypy total scores predicted internet addiction behavior as well as frequency of Facebook use in this sample. However, contrary to our expectations, disorganized schizotypy was found to be the best predictor of internet addiction. The details of these findings are discussed in addition to a call for more research into electronic media use in this population of emerging adults

TECHNOLOGY USE IN SCHIZOTYPY UTILIZING THE DOMAINS OF TECHNOLOGY USE SURVEY (DOTUS)

The diathesis stress model for schizophrenia posits that genetics and prenatal factors confer vulnerability (diathesis) for mental illness which then may be activated through exposure to environmental stressors during life. One component of our contemporary environment involves technology use which has demonstrated risk and beneficial capabilities in regards to the schizophrenia spectrum. Using an online and in-person survey, this study aimed to elucidate the manner in which time spent on technology related to schizotypy, problematic technology use (PTU), and health behaviors in 227 undergraduate students (aged 18-30). We hypothesized that levels of schizotypy, as well as time spent on social media and video games would predict increased problematic technology use and decreased engagement in health behaviors. We also hypothesized that time spent on health technologies (e.g. Fitbit) would predict decreased problematic technology use and increased engagement in health behaviors. After hierarchical linear regressions, levels of schizotypy predicted both increased problematic technology use and decreased engagement in health behaviors. Time spent on social media and video games predicted decreased engagement in health behaviors, while time spent on health technologies did not predict our outcome variables. Additional findings, implications, and further discussion on these topics are presented throughout the manuscript

Increased Internet use and poorer ability to manage emotions in youth at high-risk for psychosis

AbstractThe relationship between Internet use and social behavior remains unknown. However, research indicates that Internet use (IU) may have some causal role in certain types of psychopathology and overall functioning. In contrast, other work suggests that IU may be protective and buffer against social isolation. Poorer emotional processing (EP) is characteristic of schizophrenia, and these deficits are present prior to illness onset (the ultra high-risk period (UHR)). UHR adolescents/young adults also fall within an age demographic characterized by extensive IU, which suggests that evaluating a link between IU and social behavior in this population may be especially informative. The present study examined the relationship between IU and emotional processing in 98 adolescents/young adults (52 UHR youth and 46 controls). UHR youth exhibited greater problematic IU (β=−6.49, F(1,95)=8.79, p=0.002) and social withdrawal/problems resulting from this use (β=−3.23, F(1,95)=11.43, p<0.001), as well deficits in emotional processing in comparison to healthy peers (β=4.59, F(1,94)=5.52, p=0.011). Furthermore, the social problems resulting from IU were significantly related to the ability to process emotional information in the UHR group (β=−0.51, t(1,48)=−2.10, p=0.021). UHR youth showed evidence of problematic IU relative to controls, and the social problems resulting from IU related to poorer EP. Findings replicate extant research involving other psychosis risk populations, while adding information regarding how social processes may relate to IU

Borderline and schizotypal traits in college students: Relationship and personality profiles

The relationships between borderline and schizotypal traits are still debated. Borderline traits, schizotypal traits, and several psychopathological symptoms were assessed among 2,341 college students. A factor analysis was performed on borderline and schizotypal personality measures, leading to 10 factors. Borderline factors were largely intercorrelated, as were schizotypal factors. Moreover, borderline factors were weakly to largely correlated to schizotypal factors. Five factors were very strongly correlated (r > .50). Dissociation was strongly related to Odd Beliefs/Unusual Perceptive Experiences and Anxious-Depressive factors. Social Anxiety was strongly related to Suspiciousness. Based on these 10 factors, a cluster analysis was conducted, and resulted in four clearly distinct groups: a Low Traits cluster, a Narcissistic cluster, a Social Anxiety cluster, and a High Traits cluster. This High Traits cluster had the lowest levels of academic achievement and the highest levels of internalizing behaviors and externalizing behaviors. The clinical implications of the results are discussed

Schizotypy but not Cannabis Use Modestly Predicts Psychotogenic Experiences: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE)

Objective. Cannabis use predicts psychosis in longitudinal studies, but it is difficult to infer causation. Some precursor variables predict both, including childhood trauma and adversity. Additionally, some of the desired effects of cannabis use resemble the symptoms of psychosis. It would be preferable to assess psychotomimetic or “unusual” experiences that include psychotic symptoms but without assuming pathology. Finally, it is possible that similar people are prone to psychosis and drawn to cannabis use, perhaps, because they are sensitive or attracted to unusual experiences. Schizotypy provides a trait measure of proneness to unusual experiences. The study aimed to examine cross-sectionally relationships between cannabis use, schizotypy, and unusual experiences whilst controlling for current trauma symptoms. Method. A volunteer online sample (n = 129, 64% women, predominantly students) who had used cannabis at least once was recruited. People who reported active effects of past trauma were excluded with a brief primary care posttraumatic stress disorder screen. Participants completed the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experience, the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, and measures of substance use and sociodemographics. Results. The majority of respondents recounted unusual experiences after cannabis use, and many of these might have been considered symptoms of psychosis if they had received medical attention. In regression analysis, the only predictor of the unusual experiences scale of O-LIFE was schizotypy (measured by the remaining subscales; 4% of variance). There were no correlations between cannabis use frequency and schizotypy or unusual experiences. Conclusions. These findings suggest that, after controlling for schizotypy and excluding people who are actively experiencing the effects of past trauma, frequency of cannabis use does not predict unusual experiences. However, individuals with schizotypal personality traits may have more unusual experiences when using cannabis

Differential psychological impact of internet exposure on internet addicts

The study explored the immediate impact of internet exposure on the mood and psychological states of internet addicts and low internet-users. Participants were given a battery of psychological tests to explore levels of internet addiction, mood, anxiety, depression, schizotypy, and autism traits. They were then given exposure to the internet for 15 min, and re-tested for mood and current anxiety. Internet addiction was associated with long-standing depression, impulsive nonconformity, and autism traits. High internet-users also showed a pronounced decrease in mood following internet use compared to the low internet-users. The immediate negative impact of exposure to the internet on the mood of internet addicts may contribute to increased usage by those individuals attempting to reduce their low mood by re-engaging rapidly in internet use

Empirical Identification of Axis I and Axis II Symptom Subtypes of Sex Addiction Using Lateny Profile Analysis

Sexual addiction is a disorder characterized by lack of control over sexual urges, pathological relationships and lack of intimacy, mood-altering experiences, and adverse consequences that tend to be disregarded by the person affected. Although not classified as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual-IV-TR (DSM-IV-TR, APA, 2000) this distressful sexual manifestation is increasingly recognized as a clinical and public health problem. Previous studies suggest commonalities with addictive disorders and maladaptive personality traits. The purpose of the current study was to analyze personality configurations of individuals diagnosed as sex addicts and uncover specific subtypes or profiles associated to sexually addictive behaviors. The study used archival data from 222 individuals, mostly males, treated at a residential program for sex addiction. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was utilized to uncover latent classes by using scale scores from the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III) and the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). The statistical analyses identified four latent classes for Axis I and five classes for Axis II corresponding to homogeneous subgroups of participants, and determined class membership. Findings were followed up with multivariate and univariate analyses of variances and discriminant analysis to better understand qualitative and quantitative differences among groups. Results revealed significant relationships between class membership and symptoms of Axis I and Axis II disorders measured by other screening tests: the Sexual Addiction Screening Test-Revised (SAST- R), the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), Post Traumatic Stress Inventory (PTSI), and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), as well as severity of sexually addictive behaviors, and specific types of behavioral manifestations of sexual addiction as measured by the Sexual Dependency Inventory (SDI-R). No relations were found with legal consequences of addictive behavior. Some implications for treatment of sexual addiction were also addressed